Mooring line retaining device



Oct. 25, 1966 'r. s. STAINBROOK 3,280,784

MOORING LINE RETAINING DEVICE Original Filed Aug. 20, 1964 INVENTOR.

THEODORE SSTAINBROOK BYZZ/MQ 2 442016 42 ATTUR/VEYS United States Patent 3,280,784 MOORING LINE RETAINING DEVICE Theodore S. Stainbrook, 10864 Fairbanks Way, Culver City, Calif. Continuation of application Ser. No. 390,852, Aug. 20, 1964. This application Nov. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 511,280 2 Claims. (Cl. 114-230) This application is a continuation of applicants copending application entitled, Mooring Line Retaining Device, Serial No. 390,852, filed Aug. 20, 1964, and now abandoned.

This invention broadly relates'to improved structures and devices for retaining flexible members or lines in a convenient position for grasping by the user; more particularly, the invention relates to a versatile and novel structure for retaining mooring lines of boats in desirable locations for manipulation by an individual on a boat as the boat approaches or leaves the docking area.

Conventional docking facilities such as marinas, harbors, and the like embody piers which project outwardly from docks at spaced intervals to define slip areas into which boats ranging generally in size from 15 feet to 75 feet long are docked. During the operation of securing the boat in the slip, it is the usual practice, as the boat enters the slip for either a person on one of the piers or the dock to throw a mooring line to a person on the bow of the boat. In other instances, someone on the boat may jump onto the pier and throw a mooring line to another person on the boat. Also, boat hooks are sometimes used. With smaller boats operated by one person, the problem of getting hold of the mooring lines oftentimes becomes exceedingly difiicult without causing the boat to impact against the piers and dock or otherwise damage the hull.

In some cases the mooring lines may be hanging down into the water; in such case they are not only diflicult to get hold of from the bow of the boat, but also they tend to deteriorate because of water soakage.

Of course, various methods have been devised to eliminate the problems associated with getting hold of the mooring lines; for example, as heretofore mentioned, boat hooks have been devised to pick up the bow lines from the dock or water as the case may be, however, even with boat hooks, without a skilled boatsman much time may be consumed before the line may be caught and positioned in such a manner that it may be grasped from the boat.

With the foregoing considerations in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a device for retaining boat mooring lines in position to be conveniently grasped by someone on the boat.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for retaining bow lines for use with a boat in a position where the lines will not be susceptible to water damage and also in a position where the lines may be quickly and easily picked up by someone unskilled in the mooring and docking of boats.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a device for retaining mooring lines for use with a boat which includes a portion thereof designed to extend to a position to hold the lines conveniently for someone on a boat to reach, and yet a device which is so constructed that it will not interfere with the movement of the boat into a slip and the proper securing thereof.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a device for retaining mooring lines in conjunction with boat docking, wherein the device may be manufactured of relatively standard materials on a production line basis without any expensive tooling or fabrication being required.

3,280,784 Patented Oct. 25, 1966 "ice These and other objects are advantages of the present invention are generally achieved by providing a retaining structure for dock mooring lines of a boat compris ing an upright member which is angularly adjustable and is designed to be received in a mounting member, the latter being in turn rigidly fastened to the dock or pier proximate where the boat is being docked. Preferably, the mounting member is securely fastened to the dock as by screws or bolts. Also, it is preferable that the upright member be susceptible of limited rotation with respect to the mounting member and towards this end it is desirable that some type of means be intercoupled between the upright member and the mounting member to bias the upright member towards a given rotative position but still allow it to rotate with respect to said position for a purpose that will become clearer as the specification proceeds.

Preferably, the upright member has a hook shaped portion at its free end, the hook shaped portion being designed to receive the mooring lines and retain same in position above the water at a level according to the particular size of the boat with which the device is used.

A better understanding of the present invention will be had by reference to the drawings, showing merely an illustrative embodiment, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of the mounting structure of the improved mooring line retaining device of the present invention; and,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the mooring line retaining device of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIGURE 2 a portion of a dock 10 which is designed .to receive the mounting assembly 11 of the mooring device of the present invention. The particular location of the mounting assembly 11 and the general function of the mooring line retaining device of the present invention are clearly described in applicants above referred to copending application.

The mounting assembly 11 includes a mounting plate 12 having coupled thereto for relative rotative movement a hat-shaped member 13. The mounting member or plate 12 may be fastened, as with bolts 14, to the dock 10.

In order to maintain the hat-shaped member 13 spaced from the mounting plate 12 and permit relative rotative movement therebetween, the hat-shaped member 13 may include dimpled portions 15 which act as bearing surfaces.

The actual coupling between the mounting plate 12 and the member 13 may be accomplished through a central bolt 16 and nut member 17, all as more clearly shown in the view of FIGURE 1. The bolt 16 may be peened over as indicated at 18, such that the mounting member 12 may rest fiat against the clock 10. For clarity of illustration, in the view of FIGURE 1 the end of the bolt 16, at 18, is shown protruding somewhat below the surface of the mounting member 12.

The bolt 16 forms a structure for coupling of coiled spring means 19 thereto, as clearly shown in the view of FIGURE 1. The spring means 19 has its other end fixed to the member 13 such that the spring means 19 acts to bias the member 13 to a given position.

Welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the member 13, are a pair of spaced support members 20. The support members 20 have formed therein aligned openings 21 to receive a pivot pin 22 to which is coupled a mooring line retaining pole 23. The pole 23 has a lower portion 24 which receives the pivot pin 22.

The support members 20 are also provided with aligned slots 25 designed to receive a retainer bolt 26. The bolt 26 functions to hold the pole 23 at a given angle 'given position and thereafter secured by means of a clamp 27 or the like.

The 'free end of the extension portion 23' of the mooring line retaining pole has coupled thereto a hook member or portion 28. The hook member 28 may be 'swivelly connected to the telescoping portion 23' through a connection 29 wherein the hook portion 28 may pivot in one plane and rotate in another; in an alternative construction, a ball type swivel may be employed for the connection 29.

Thus, in the operation of the mooring line retaining device of the present invention, the bolt 26 is first clamped at the desirable position in the slots 25 to 'by overcoming the biasing force of the spring 19. Thus,

if the boat, for example, should impact the pole 23, the mooring line retaining device inherently embodies a safety factor in' view of the spring member 19 which will prevent any severe damage to either the boat or the device as such.

It will be appreciated that the improvement in the mooring line retaining device, as described herein, results in a very simple structure with a limited number of parts which may be made without any expensive tooling, and yet which functions in a versatile manner to accommodate various sized boats and docking situations. Of course, minor modifications and changes may be made in the mooring line retaining device without 'departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A retaining structure for dock mooring lines of a 4 boat comprising: a telescoping pole; a pair of spaced supporting members designed to receive one end of said pole therebetween, mounting means interconnecting said supporting members to said dock, said mounting means embodying relative rotative means for rotating said supporting members and said pole in a plane parallel to said dock; positioning means coupled to said supporting members for angularly adjusting said pole in a plane perpendicular to said dock, said positioning means comprises a rod extending between said supporting members, said supporting members defining opposing parallel slots therein for movement of said rod to a plurality of positions whereby the angular position of said pole may be adjusted; a hook shaped member defined by the free end of said pole, said hook shaped member being designed to receive the free ends of said dock mooring lines and retain them in convenient grasping position as the boat approaches or leaves the clock.

2. A retaining structure for dock mooring lines of a boat comprising: a telescoping pole; a pair of spaced supporting members designed to receive one end of said pole therebetween, mounting means interconnecting said supporting members to said dock, said mounting means embodying relative rotative means for rotating said supporting members and said pole in a plane parallel to said dock, said relative rotating means embodying a hat-shaped housing mounted parallel to said dock, and spring means mounted in said housing biasing said housing to a given circular position; positioning means coupled to said supporting members for angularly adjusting said pole in a plane perpendicular to said dock; a hook shaped member defined by the free end of said pole, said hook shaped member being designed to receive the free ends of said dock mooring lines and retain them in convenient grasping position as the boat approaches or leaves the dock.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,120,831 2/1964 Fulton 114-230 3,151,595 10/1964 Stainbrook 114--230 3,157,150 11/1964 Faber 114230 3,177,838 4/1965 Grimes 114-230 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A RETAINING STRUCTURE FOR DOCK MOORING LINES OF A BOAT COMPRISING: A TELESCOPING POLE; A PAIR OF SPACED SUPPORTING MEMBERS DESIGNED TO RECEIVE ONE END OF SAID POLE THEREBETWEEN, MOUNTING MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS TO SAID DOCK AND MOUNTING MEANS EMBODYING RELATIVE ROTATIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS AND SAID POLE IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO SAID DOCK; POSITIONING MEANS COUPLED TO SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS FOR ANGULARLY ADJUSTING SAID POLE IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO SAID DOCK, SAID POSITIONING MEANS COMPRISES A ROD EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS, SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS DEFINING OPPOSING PARALLEL SLOTS THEREIN FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID ROD TO A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS WHEREBY THE ANGULAR POSITION OF SAID POLE MAY BE ADJUSTED; A HOOK SHAPED MEMBER DEFINED BY THE FREE END OF SAID POLE, SAID HOOK SHAPED MEMBER BEING DESIGNED TO RECEIVE THE FREE ENDS OF SAID DOCK MOORING LINES AND RETAIN THEM IN CONVENIENT GRASPING POSITION AS THE BOAT APPROACHES OR LEAVES THE DOCK. 